The Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs residents will soon have the opportunity to take an in-depth look into the intricate, complicated process of creating a woven rug.

From 7 to 9 p.m. Aug. 7, the Chase Oriental Rug Co. will host "From Wool to Rugs," a seminar featuring well-known textile expert Robert Mann.

Mann's credentials include the establishment of new production, cleaning and repair facilities across Asia and in the United States. Mann owns a facility in Denver.

"He really is an expert in his field," storeowner David Scully said, adding that Mann has been in the textile industry for more than 30 years.

It is Mann's first presentation in the area, he said.

Focusing largely on Turkey's weaving culture and techniques, the seminar will cover the weaving process "from A to Z," Scully said.

The presentation will examine the entire process of making a rug, starting with the type of sheep's wool used to the processing techniques and ending with the different types of weaving designs.

Archaeological evidence indicates the practice of weaving textiles is about 2,500 years old, although it is widely believed to have begun up to 1,000 years earlier.

"Experts estimate from the samples that we have that the technology would have taken another 750 to 1,000 years to develop," Scully said.

Turkey is known to be one of the world's finest producers of woven rugs.

The Chase Oriental Rug Co. hosts two seminars each year, one each in the spring and fall. This year's June seminar had a turnout of 75 people, and last August saw 115.

Scully said that the showroom could accommodate 130 to 140 people.

There is no charge to attend the seminar, which will be held at the company's showroom in Riverside Center.